Apr. 9,1917 
Water-Retaining Capacity of Soil 
35 
greenhouse during the middle of the day (1, p. 26). As the weight of 
the air-dried soil in each cylinder was approximately 50 pounds, the added 
water was sufficient to have raised the moisture content to over 30 per 
cent if no seepage had occurred. During July, after the cylinders had 
been allowed 96 days in which to lose water by seepage, Cylinder IV was 
opened and the moisture content determined in the successive inch sec¬ 
tions. The three others were opened at intervals of 8, 5, and 17 days, 
respectively. As the moisture content was no lower in the last three than 
in the first it would appear that equilibrium had been practically estab¬ 
lished by the time the first was opened. In Table III are reported the 
data on these as well as those on three cylinders (No. I to III) which, in 
an earlier experiment, 1 had been filled with the same soil and had been 
similarly treated (3, p. 280). 
Table III. —Ratio of water content to hygroscopic coefficient in soil J, entirely protected 
from evaporation , but in capillary connection with the earth's soil mass. To the cylinders , 
each filled with approximately 50 pounds of air-dried soil, there was added 75 pounds of 
water y after which they were left from 31 to 126 days 
Cylinder No. 
Depth of section. 
1(31 
days). 
n <44 
days). 
2 S& 
IV (96 
days). 
V (104 
days). 
VI (109 
days). 
VTI (126 
days). 
iv-vn 
(aver¬ 
age 109 
days). 
Inches. 
Per ct. 
Per ct. 
Per ct. 
Per ct. 
Per ct. 
Per ct. 
Per ct. 
Per ct. 
3 - 1 
3*3 
3 * 1 
2. 5 
3 *o 
2. 6 
2. 6 
2. 6 
3*2 
3 *o 
2.4 
2. 8 
2. 6 
2 * 5 
2. 6 
3 - 1 
3*2 
3 * 1 
2.3 
2. 7 
2.5 
2.5 
2*5 
3 - 2 
3*2 
3 * 1 
2.4 
2. 6 
2. 5 
2*5 
2*5 
5 * -. 
3*3 
3*2 
3 * 1 
2.4 
2. 6 
2. 5 
2. 5 
2*5 
3*2 
3 * 1 
2.4 
2. 6 
2. 6 
2.4 
2. 5 
7 . 
3*2 
3*2 
3 * 1 
2.4 
2. 6 
2. 6 
2. 4 
2. 5 
3*3 
3*3 
3*2 
2.4 
2 * 5 
2.5 
2.4 
2.5 
9 . 
3*4 
3*4 
3*3 
2.4 
2. 6 
2. 4 
2.4 
2. 5 
10. 
3*3 
3*4 
3*3 
2. 5 
2. 6 
2.4 
2.4 
2*5 
11. 
3 * 2 
3*5 
3*4 
2.4 
2. 6 
2. 5 
2-3 
2.4 
3 * 5 
3*4 
3*3 
2.4 
2. 6 
2.5 
2. 5 
2.5 
13.. 
0 6 
3*4 
2.4 
2. 6 
0 c 
2.4 
0 e 
O' u 
5 
■ 5 
14. 
3*6 
3*5 
3*4 
2.4 
2. 6 
2.4 
2.4 
2.5 
3 * 7 
3*6 
3*4 
2.4 
2 * 5 
2.4 
2*5 
2.5 
3*6 
3*4 
3*5 
2.3 
2 * 5 
2.4 
2. 6 
2.4 
i 7 . 
3*7 
3*6 
3*5 
2.3 
2. 5 
2.4 
2. 5 
2.4 
3*7 
3*9 
3 * 5 
2.3 
2. 6 
2.4 
2*5 
2.4 
19 . *. 
3*7 
3 * 7 
3*5 
2.3 
2. 6 
2. 4 
2. 5 
2.4 
3 * 7 
3 * 7 
3*6 
2.4 
2. 6 
2.4 
2. 5 
2. 5 
3*8 
3*8 
3*7 
2.3 
2*5 
2.3 
2.5 
2.4 
4. 0 
4. 1 
3*8 
2.3 
2. 6 
2.4 
2.5 
2.4 
4.2 
3*9 
3*8 
2.3 
2. 5 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 
4. 2 
3*9 
3 * & 
2.3 
2-5 
2. 5 
2. 5 
2.4 
*S- •.... 
4. 2 
3*9 
4.1 
2.3 
2.5 
2. 5 
2*5 
2.4 
4.4 
4*3 
4. 2 
2.3 
2.5 
2.5 
2. 5 
2.4 
4*5 
4*5 
4. 2 
2.3 
2*5 
2.5 
2. 5 
2.4 
4 - 5 
4*3 
4. 2 
2.5 
2. 4 
2.5 
2.4 
2.5 
4. 6 
4*3 
4*5 
2. 5 
2*5 
2.5 
2.4 
2.5 
4. 8 
4*3 
4. 6 
2.5 
2*5 
2.5 
2. 5 
2.5 
Average. 
3*7 
3*7 
3*6 
2.4 
2. 6 
2. 5 
2*5 
2.5 
1 The various experiments are reported in what appears a logical order for purposes of discussion rather 
than in the order in which they were performed. 
